Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-09-10

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fingers, she dressed in gay silk, that
don't rustic never bit, though It's SO
thick it might stand all alone, they do
say. IFS awful lonesome for you,
Miss, to sleep here alone, and I'll stay
with you with pleasure if it come to
that, though my nerves aren't none of
the strongest"
I thanked Warden, however, and as
sured her that I was not in the least
afraid; and she, with well-relieved
face, left me alone. I heard her foot
steps echoing down the corridor-they
died away, and I was now out of reach
of all human help. for in this distant
room, in this far-away wing, . posi-
BILE sounds could reach any other in
habitants of Clifton's Vale.
In all my girlhood I was brave; ever
in the sad depression of my sorrow, 1
had never known physical fear; never
theless, when the last of Warden's foot
steps echoed out and died, and that
profound stiffness followed which can
be oppressive, L mad curious sensa
ton. did not call it fear; 1 did not
know before that grim and pale-faced
tyrant; but it made me uncomfortable,
and caused my heart to beat irregu-
larly. The sensation was this: 1 felt
that I was not alone. Of course it was
fancy, and what have I to do with
fancy? I determined to Danish this
uncomfortable feeling from my mind,
and. stirring the fire to q cheerful
blaze, I drew one of the blackjack
chairs near it and sat down.
Warden had looked so pale and
frightened before she left me that Out
of consideration for her feelings had
allowed her to leave the Jewels which I
had worn that evening on the dressing
table. There they lay, a set of very
valuable diamonds. There was an old
fashioned mirror on the ,mantel-piece,
and as l sat by the fire I saw the re-
Election of my diamonds in the glass.
AS I noticed their sparkle again that
strange sensation returned, this time
more strongly, this time with q cold
shiver. I was not alone. Who
was in the Tapestry room? Was
it the ghost? Was the story true, after
all? Of course I did not believe it. T
laughed aloud as the thought came to
me. 1 felt that I was getting quite
silly and nervous. There was nothing
for me but to get into bed as quickly as
possible.
1 was about to rise from my easy
chair and go over to the old-fashioned
four-poster, when again my attention
was attracted to the glass over my
head. It was hung in such way as
to reveal large portion of the room,
and now saw, not the diamonds, but
something else. In the folds of the
dim and old-worn tapestry I saw some
thing move and glitter. l looked again;
there was no installing tit was an
eye, human eye, looking fxedly at
me through hole in the canvas. Now,
I knew why I felt that I was not alone.
There was some one hidden between
the tapestry hangings and the wall of
the chamber. Some one, not ghost.
That eye was human, or I had never
looked on human eye before. 1 was
alone with thief, perhaps with worse,
and gems of immense value lay within
his reach. [ was absolutely alone, not
soul could hear the most agonized
cry for help in this distant room. Now,
I knew, if had ever doubted it before,
that I was very brave woman.
The imminence of the peril steadied
my nerves which few minutes before
were beginning to culver. I neither
started nor exclaimed. I felt that had
in no way betrayed my knowledge to
my terrible guest. I sat perfectly still,
thinking out the situation and nv
chances of escape. Nothing but con-
summate GOODNESS could win the victory,
and resolved to be cool. With fer
vent and passionate cry for succor Il
rose from my chair, and going to the
dressing table, I slipped several costly
rings off my fingers. I left them
scattered carelessly about Then I put
the extinguishers on the candles they
we're wax, and stood in massive silver
The room, however,
was still brilliant with the light of the
fire on the hearth. I got into my bed,
laid my head on the pillow, and closed
my eyes.
It may have been ten minutes
Seeu0u mOTo Ike ill uOuf TO my
strained senses-before I heard the faint
est movement. Then I discovered a
little rustic behind the tapestry, and
man got out. When he did so I opened
NY eyes wide; at that distance he could
not possibly see whether they were
open or shut. He was a powerful
man, very tall and of great breadth.
He had q black beard, and quantity
If black hair I also noticed pecul-
arity; among his raven locks was one
perfectly white. One thick, white lock |
hung back off the forehead-so white !
vas it that the fire instantly revealed |
t to me.
The man did not glance toward the
bed; he went straight, with no particu-
ar quiet, to the dressing-table. I
closed my eyes now, but I heard him
picking up my trinkets and dropping
hem again. Then he approached the
bedside. I felt him come close, felt
lis breath as he bent over me. I was
wing on my side, and my eyes were
hut, ]. was breathing gently.